AMUSEMENTS.

The past week was one of almost unexampled prosperity at the Academy of Music, and if the weather had not been unpropitious in the early part of it, Mr. MARETZEK would certainly be able to show the largest returns ever known at his prices in the Fourteenth-street establishment. The performance of "Robert le Diable" on Friday was witnessed by an audience that, in point of numbers, has hardly been surpassed. The same opera will be repeated to-night, and with better ensemble, we may safely conclude, than on the occasion previously referred to. These grand works require several performances before they run smoothly. To-morrow, "Faust" is to be given, and toward the end of the week "Ione" will be repeated for the last time. We are therefore to have a perfect gala week -- nothing but the largest and most important works of the modern grand opera repertoire. Our readers, under these circumstances, would do well to secure their seats in time, or they mind that an energetic and eager crowd has seized the golden opportunity, and that even standroom will be denied to them, as on Friday evening.

Miss AVONIA JONES an American artiste, who has recently won distinction in Europe, and of whom much is expected, commences a short season of performances at the Winter Garden to-night. A new tragic play, called "Judith," has been prepared for the event, and splendid scenery and costumes have been made ready for the occasion.

At Niblo's Garden, Mr. BOOTH's success in the "Fool's Revenge" has been so marked that the piece is announced for repetition until further notice.

At the Olympic Theatre, the favorite drama called the "Irish Emigrant," (for Mr. DREW,) and the laughable farce of the "Laughing Hyena," (for Mr. MORTIMER,) will be performed. On Monday next Mr. OAKEY HALL's new burlesque will be produced.

At BARNUM's, the fairy spectacle of "Aphrosa, or the Spirit of Beauty," will be played twice a day for the whole of the present week. It will then be withdrawn to make room for other novelties.

The members of the Philharmonic Society gave an extra concert on Saturday evening, in aid of the Sanitary Fair. The Academy of Music, has seldom presented so disconsolate an appearance. The entertainment, so far as the attendance was concerned, was in fact a complete failure, and the disgrace of the failure falls not upon the public but upon the managers, whose mingled conceit and incompetency have led to this unfortunate result. Had the concert been properly announced, there would have been no question on the subject of a good attendance. It is folly to suppose that the public regards the Philharmonic with any particular degree of favor. The Society is a very ordinary one in everything save meanness, which is sometimes extraordinary, and assurance which is always remarkable. It pretends to lead the way in matters musical, when in fact it only follows the lead of others. The bare external influence that it possesses was illustrated on Saturday. Instead of the rush which was expected when the direction was grand enough to open the doors, there was a miserable sprinkling of say one hundred and fifty people. And yet to this same direction the musical affairs of the Fair are to entrusted. Truly that department is likely to be a source of considerable profit to the poor soldiers. We are sorry for the members of the band who sacrificed their time, and for Madame D'ANGRI, Mr. LOTTE and Mr. LOUIS SCHREIBER, who sacrificed their talents in a cause that has only been marred by bad management. Let us hope that if they try again they may be more fortunate. The programme on Saturday was really excellent. One of the most important of the items was a new overture, by Mr. G.F. BRISTOW' which was played for the first time. It is named "Columbus," and the treatment is highly descriptive and suggestive -- the themes being elevated and refined, with yet a sufficient amount of brilliancy to make them generally acceptable to the ear. Mr. BRISTOW always writes in a clear and masterly vein, and with evident proclivities toward the school of the classicists. There is a pretty touch of erudition in the agitato, where a fugal subject conveys an excellent idea of the struggles, commotions and doubtful upheavings that preceded the final triumph of the great navigator. The overture, in fact, is a credit to the Society, and will, we trust, form an item on the next regular programme.

Messrs. MASON & THOMAS have brought their highly interesting series of Chamber Concerts to an end. We are delighted to hear that the pecuniary result is in the highest degree flattering. Although undertaken with no object beyond art, and without the slightest desire to make the concerts remunerative, it is still gratifying, as an indication of an increasing interest in good music, to hear that there is a balance of several hundred dollars to the good of the party.

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